Growth, Crystal Structure and Stability of Ag-Ni/Cu Films

Abstract:

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AgxNi1-x (x=0.0-1.0) films were grown on Cu substrates by electrodeposition method. The films were found to be a nanocrystalline mixture of pure silver and nickel. The grain sizes were determined by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy techniques. The minimal value was 3.3 m for the alloy with 70 wt% concentration of Ni. The stability of the grown films upon heating in ir and in vacuum was examined. An increase in the grain size was found to begin at 150°C.

Abstract: BaTiO3 (BT) nanoparticles were prepared by the hydrothermal technique using different starting materials and the microstructure examined by XRD, SEM, TEM and HRTEM. X-ray diffraction and electron diffraction patterns showed that the nanoparticles were the cubic BaTiO3 phase. The BT nanoparticles prepared from the starting materials of as-prepared titanium hydroxide and barium hydroxide have spherical grain morphology, an average size of 65 nm and a fairly narrow size distribution. A uniform diffraction contrast across each single grain is observed in the TEM images, and the clear lattice fringes (with d110 = 0.28 nm) observed in HRTEM images reveal that well-crystallized BT nanoparticles are synthesized by the hydrothermal method. The edges of the particles are very smooth, with no surface steps. BT nanoparticles with average grain size of 90 nm, synthesized using barium hydroxide and titanium dioxide as the starting materials, show surface facets. In this case a bimodal size distribution of large faceted and smaller particles is observed. Diffraction contrast variation across the particles caused by high strains within the particles is clearly observed. The high strains obviously stem from structural defects formed during hydrothermal synthesis, presumable in the form of lattice OH− ions and their compensation by cation vacancies. HRTEM images demonstrate that surface facets parallel to the (100) and (110) planes and small islands with 3 ~ 4 atomic layer thickness are frequently observed around the edge of the particles.

Abstract: In this research, heat treatment is the final finishing process applied on nanocrystalline CoNiFe to improve microstructure for good hardness property. Nanocrystalline CoNiFe has been synthesized using the electrodeposition method. This study investigated the effect of heat treatment at 500°C, 600°C, 700°C and 800°C on electrodeposited nanocrystalline CoNiFe. The heat treatment process was performed in the tube furnace with flowing Argon gas. By changing the heat treatment temperature, physical properties such as phase and crystallographic structure, surface morphology, grain size and hardness of nanocrystalline CoNiFe was studied. The nanocrystalline CoNiFe phase revealed the Face Centered Cubic (FCC) and Body Centered Cubic (BCC) crystal structure. FESEM micrographs showed that the grain sizes of the coatings were in the range of 78.76 nm to 132 nm. Dendrite shape was found in the microstructure of nanocrystalline CoNiFe. The nanocrystalline CoNiFe prepared in heat treatment temperature of 700°C, achieved the highest hardness of 449 HVN. The surface roughness of nanocrystalline CoNiFe heated at 700°C was found to be smaller than other temperatures.